Abat Bertha

Have you ever stopped to consider how analytics play a role in your everyday life? You might be surprised to realize how deeply analytics are embedded in our daily routines and decision-making processes. Margaret Rouse, a technology expert, defines ‘analytics’ as the process of discovering and communicating meaningful patterns in data. This practice transforms raw data into insights that enhance decision-making capabilities, making it indispensable in today’s data-driven world. According to Rouse, analytics are especially crucial in environments rich with data and are vital for leaders, managers, and virtually anyone navigating the complexities of modern life (Rouse).

Everyday Analytics

Applying analytics involves a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating statistics, computer programming, and operational research to interpret and derive insights from data. This approach is prevalent across various fields, including business, science, sports, and healthcare—any sector that collects large volumes of data. For example, in business, companies use analytics to understand consumer behavior, optimize marketing strategies, and improve operational efficiency. Thomas H. Davenport and Jeanne G. Harris, in their book “Competing on Analytics: The New Science of Winning,” emphasize how businesses leverage analytics to gain competitive advantage and drive strategic decisions (Davenport & Harris, 2007).

In science, researchers analyze vast datasets to uncover patterns and make new discoveries. Viktor Mayer-Schönberger and Kenneth Cukier, in “Big Data: A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think,” discuss how the advent of big data analytics has revolutionized various fields, enabling unprecedented insights and innovations (Mayer-Schönberger & Cukier, 2013). Sports teams leverage analytics to enhance player performance and strategize better. In healthcare, analytics help in predicting disease outbreaks, personalizing patient treatment plans and improving overall health outcomes.

What are the impacts of analytics? Analytics reveal hidden patterns, such as consumer behavior trends, athlete performance metrics, and correlations between activities and health outcomes. These insights can fundamentally alter our understanding of the world and drive significant improvements in numerous areas. For instance, analytics can describe current conditions, predict future outcomes, and optimize performance. They play a crucial role in risk management, decision-making, optimization, and modeling processes.

Consider a retail company that uses analytics to analyze customer purchase history. By identifying buying patterns, the company can predict future sales trends, tailor marketing campaigns, and manage inventory more effectively. Similarly, in healthcare, predictive analytics can help in identifying patients at high risk of developing chronic diseases, allowing for early intervention and better patient outcomes.

Essentially, analytics are woven into the fabric of our everyday existence, shaping how we perceive and interact with the world. Often, we rely on analytics without even realizing it, sometimes becoming unwittingly influenced by the very data patterns we seek to understand.

Everyday Politics: A Parallel Concept

How does this relate to everyday politics? Luke Yates, in his research article “How Everyday Life Matters: Everyday Politics, Everyday Consumption, and Social Change” (2022), delves into the concept of ‘everyday life,’ which has gained prominence in social science research since the mid-1980s. Yates examines the interplay between everyday life, consumption, and political actions, emphasizing the importance of understanding how power operates in daily life. He discusses theories of influential power, including feminist perspectives, practice theory, and Michel Foucault’s contributions (Yates, 2022).

Michel Foucault’s work on power and knowledge explores how power dynamics shape our understanding of the world and our everyday practices. In “Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews and Other Writings, 1972-1977,” Foucault explains how knowledge production is intertwined with power relations, influencing social and political structures (Foucault, 1980).

The notion of ‘everyday politics’ revolves around how ordinary activities and decisions contribute to broader social and political changes. Yates highlights how inequalities in resources influence everyday practices and how these practices, in turn, drive social change. By analyzing everyday life through this lens, we can gain a deeper understanding of how social change processes unfold and how individuals and communities navigate political landscapes.

For example, consider the small, everyday decisions individuals make about where to shop, what to eat, or how to commute. These choices can be seen as political acts, reflecting and reinforcing broader social and economic structures. By examining these decisions, we can understand how individuals navigate and influence the political and social world around them.

James C. Scott, in “Domination and the Arts of Resistance: Hidden Transcripts,” discusses how everyday acts of resistance and compliance contribute to the maintenance and challenge of power structures. These ‘hidden transcripts’ offer insights into the subtle ways people navigate power dynamics in their daily lives (Scott, 1990).

Everyday analytics and politics

As technology advances, the competition among individuals and groups intensifies, often manifesting in the realm of everyday life. Those with privileges and skills may leverage politics in their daily routines, either by wielding power aggressively or by strategically analyzing risks and managing organizational development. Understanding the interplay between politics and analytics in everyday life enhances our awareness of these dynamics.

In many countries, there are still groups of people who need encouragement to advocate for positive change. While they might utilize analytics, they may also feel pessimistic about the political landscape. However, by understanding and applying the principles of ‘everyday analytics’ and ‘everyday politics,’ individuals can become more effective in their efforts to drive social and political improvements.

In conclusion, by thoroughly understanding analytics and politics, we can better appreciate their significance in our daily lives. Recognizing how we apply these concepts empowers us to make more informed decisions and drive meaningful social change. Encouraging broader engagement with these ideas can foster a more enlightened and proactive society.

References

• Davenport, T. H., & Harris, J. G. (2007). Competing on Analytics: The New Science of Winning. Harvard Business Review Press.
• Foucault, M. (1980). Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews and Other Writings, 1972-1977. Pantheon Books.
• Mayer-Schönberger, V., & Cukier, K. (2013). Big Data: A Revolution That Will Transform How We Live, Work, and Think. Eamon Dolan/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
• Rouse, M. (n.d.). Analytics. Retrieved from TechTarget
• Scott, J. C. (1990). Domination and the Arts of Resistance: Hidden Transcripts. Yale University Press.
• Yates, L. (2022). How Everyday Life Matters: Everyday Politics, Everyday Consumption, and Social Change. Retrieved from Journal of Social Sciences